Atomizer



K. L. MARTIN June 16, 1936.

momma Filed Sept. 21, 19:55 a Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. K/IVGISLEFL.MRI? r/M BY t ATTORNEY June 16, 1936. -rm 2,044,091

ATOMI Z ER Filed Sept. 21, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INENTOR. KIIVGKSLFFL,have T//\/ A TTORNEY June 16, 1936.

K. L. MARTIN ATOMIZER Filed Sept. 21, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fwy. 7.

[NV EN TOR. K1 NGLSLE Y L- MFR TIN ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE s'romznn Kingsley L. Martin, Montclair, N.J. Application September 21, 1935, Serial No. 41,597

' 8 Claims. (01. 299-120) This invention relates to mechanical pressureatomizers used for burning fuel oil, for enriching gas in thecarburetors used in the manufacture of water gas and for other purposeswhere a finely atomized, mist-like spray is desired to be obtained at alower pressure and having a wide range in capacity. The object of theinvention is to provide a device which is simple in construction,comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and is more eflicient in actionthan those heretofore proposed. With these and other, objects in View,the invention consists in novel details of construction and combinationof parts more fully disclosed and pointed out in the claims. Referringto the accompanying drawings form ing a. part of the specifications inwhich like numerals designate like parts in all the views:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through one form of theatomizer. Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 11-41? of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a face view of the sprayer plate. Fig. 4 is a section throughsuch plate. Fig. 5 is a side view of the separate type of spindle, andFigs. 6, '7 and 8 are longitudinal sections through modi- 25 "fications.

Referring to the drawings, l is a supply pipe having the screw threads 2and bore 3. The

plug or body 4 is threaded onto the pipe, and its end plate 5 carriesintegral therewith the spindle 30 6. The end plate is provided with anannular groove 1 which is connected with the interior of the plug by theseries of passages 8.

Seated against the end of the plug, is the sprayer plate 9 clamped inposition by the nut it). The plate is provided with a conical chamber llhaving the outlet orifice 12, such chamber being referred to as awhirling chamber since the fluid discharged therethrough is given awhirling movement about the spindle, as later described. On the innerface of the plate 8 are the series of passages l3 (Fig. 3) which leadinto the inner end of the chamber ll tangentially of the base of thespindle. Such passages communicate at their outer ends with the annulargroove 1.

In atomizers heretofore used, the fluid is ordinarily introduced intothe whirling chamber through tangential slots to give a. high rotaryvelocity, so that the fluid when discharged retains its centrifugaleffect and is spread out in 0 a fine mist in the form of a hollow cone.The practice has been, however, to draw the fluid from the center of thewhirling chamber where the velocity of rotation is a minimum. I havefound that by placing the cone-shaped spindle 55 in the center of thewhirling chamber, the fluid from the outer part of the chamber is forcedto the "orifice while traveling a. very high velocity which givesimproved atomization. The fluid entering through the passages 13 is,therefore, directed tangentially to the spindle, so that it flows aroundit without impinging against it. This tends to eliminate eddy currentsordinarily present when a. conical orifice is employed, so that theoutflow of the fluid is facilitated.

As a result of these two effects, atomization fine enough for thepurpose intended can be obtained at verylow pressure in the bore 3, andvery small quantities of the fluid may be atomized in an atomizer whichis also capable of high ca.- pacity when supplied with the fluid at ahigh pressure. This gives an unusually widerange in capacity by changingthe pressure only and without resorting to the expedient almostuniversal with mechanical pressure sprays of changing the sprayer plate9 for another having a larger or smaller orifice l2. This feature isparticularly valuable in-burning fuel oil as only the oil actuallyburned is heated to burner temperature and raised to burner pressure,thereby eflecting a material economy over systems which raise themaximum quantity of oil used up to the burner pressure and temperatureand returning all not required at the moment to storage tanks or to thepump suction through a return line from the whirling chamber. The widerange in capacity also makes it unnecessary to change burners undersudden changes in load, as when naval or other vessels are changingspeed or starting or stopping engines.

It has been found by actual test that the use of the stationary spindlealone increases the delivery through a given orifice. with the samepressure by per cent, decreases the pressure necessary to deliver thesame quantity by one third, operates at a range in pressure from 300 to5 lbs. with satisfactory atomization and achieves a range in capacity inthe ratio of 10 to 1.

The atomizer with non-adjustable spindle just described is particularlysuitable where a large number of atomizers are in use and it is desiredto make rapid and frequent changes in capacity without individualatomizer changes either by changing tonspra'yer plates having larger orsmaller orifices or by shutting off or starting up a certain number ofatomizers as when naval vessels are manoeuvering. With wide rangeatomizers and non-adjustable spindles, the entire output may becontrolled by fuel oil pressure changes only .at a central point just asthe flow of steam to, and the 'output of, the engines is controlled. V

A further improvement in operation, especially where large atomizers areused, is obtained by providing a longitudinal adjustment of the spindlell, as shown in Fig. 6, the shank llof the spindle being threadedthrough the end plate 5 of the plug and provided with a squared end it.'Ihis may be operated by a socket wrench passing through a stuiiing boxin an elbow (not shown) at the outer end of the pipe I, so that adjstment may be made without removing the atomizer from service.

I have also found that better results can be obtained, both as regardshigher capacity and better atomization, if -the proper ratio between thearea of the orifice l2 and the combined area of the tangential passagesII is used. This is because the atomization depends largely upon thecentrifugal force imparted to the fluid by the velocity of its passagethrough the tangential passages. If the area of the orifice I2 ismaintained constant and the pressure in the pipe I is dropped todecrease output, the velocity through the tangential passages isdiminished, and the centrifugal force imparted to the fluid iscorrespondingly less, and the fineness of the atomization is impaired.If, on the other. hand, the orifice area is reduced and the tangentialpassages are not reduced in cross section, the fiow of the smallerquantity of fluid, likewise reduces the velocity of the fiuid throughthe es producing the same result.

While this effect is materially reduced by the useof a stationaryspindle and by the. adjustable spindle, I have provided means forsimultaneously reducing the area of the tangential slots so that a highvelocity of the fluid will be maintained and the proper ratio of areasbetween the orifice and the tangential passages is maintained for allrates of output. On the spindle shank l1, Fig. 7, is securely fastened adisc I I whose external diameter is slightly less than that of thewhirling chamber II. On turning the spindle shank I! by means of thesquared end 20, the

slot and orifice areas for all capacities, and by properly shaping the,spindle to maintain the correct ratio for all capacities, since areduction of the orifice area by advancing the spindle willsimultaneously and automatically produce a corresponding reduction oftangential passage and conversely.

In large atomizers, or in atomizers used for spraying liquids of varyingviscosities, it 'is also,

an advantage to be able to adjust the orifice and tangential e areasindependently of each other. I have provided for this independentadiustment, as shown in Fig. 8, where an annular plug 2| is screwed intothe end plate 22. 'Ihe whirling chamber II is deepened, as shown, andthe spindle 23 is screwed into the annular plug 2|. By turning theannular plug II, it is advanced'to secure any desired flow. through thetangential passages and the spindle 23 then adJusted relative to theorifice to secure the best results. By simple mechanical devices, bothad'- iustments may be made while the atomizer is in use and the bestposition of each disc and spindle obtained by observation of theresulting spray.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction as well as the arrangement of theparts without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. The sides of the center spindle may bemodified in shape, its base may be broad or narrow, and'the position ofthe point relative to the orifice may be changed to get diiIerent usefulresults. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the above disclosureexcept as may be required by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an atomizer, a plug adapted to be connected to a supply pipe atone end and having at the other end a conical whirling chamber with anoutlet orifice at its outer end, a conical spindle in the chamber havingits walls spaced away from the walls of the chamber and having its outerend in said orifice, and a plurality of channels in the plug at the baseof the spindle with their center lines in a plane which is transverse tothe center line of the plug, and with their outer ends communicatingwith the interior of the plug and their inner ends communicating withthe inner 23 end of said chamber, such passages lying at and dischargingat a tangent to the base of the spindle so that the fiuld passingthrough the passages flows into the chamber in a direction tangentialthereof without impinging on the spindle.

2. In an atomizer, a plug adapted to be connected to a supply pipe atone end and having at the other end a conical whirling chamber with anoutlet orifice at its outer end, a conical spindle in the chamber havingits walls spaced away from the walls of the chamber, and adjustableaxially of the plug so that an outward movement thereof restricts theflow of fiuid through the orifice, a plurality of channels in the plugat the base of the .spindle with their center lines in a plane which istransverse to the center line of the plug and with their outer endscommunicating with the interior of the plug and their inner endscommimicating with the inner end of said chamber,

and adjustable means for throttling the flow of fluid through thepassages, said es lying at a tangent to the base of the spindle.

3. In an atomizer, a plug adapted to be connected to a supply pipe atone end and having at the other'end a conical whirling chamber with anoutlet orifice at its, outer end, a conical spindle in the chamberhaving its walls spaced away from the walls of the chamber, andadjustable axially of the plug so that an outward movement thereofrestricts the flow of fluid through the orifice, a plurality of channelsin the plug at the base of the spindle with their center lines in aplane which is transverse-to the center line of the plug and with theirouter ends communicating with the interior of the plug and their innerends communicating with the inner end of said chamber, and means carriedby the spindle for throttling the flow of fluid through the passages asthe spindle is adjusted outward, said passages lying at a tangent to thebase of the spindle. v a

4. In an atomizer, a Plug adapted to be con! nected to a supply pipe atone end and having at the other end a conical whirling chamber with anoutlet orifice at its outer end, a conical spindle in the chamber havingits walls spaced away from the walls of the chamber, and adjustableaxially of the plug so that an outward movement thereof restricts thefiow of fluid through the orifice, a plurali y of channels in the plugat the base of 2,044,091 the spindle with their center lines in a planeY which is transverse to the center line of the plug and their innerends communicating with the inner end of said chamber, and meansadjustable axially of the plug for throttling the flew of fluid throughthe passages," said passages lying at a tangent to the base of'thespindle.

5. In an atomizer, a plug body adapted to be connected to a supply pipeat one end and having at the, other end a transverse plate with aspindle carried thereby and projecting from the front ,thereof, suchplate being provided around its periphery with a series of perforations,a plate seated on the front side of the transverse plate provided withaseries of grooves which communicate at their outer ends with saidperforations and whichextend inward to the base of the spindletangential thereto, said plate being pro- -vided with a conical whirlingchamber surround-1 ing thespindle and having an outlet orifice at itsouter end, and means for clamping the last men'- tioned plate againstsaid transverse plate, said spindle being adjustable axially of the plug.body.

6. In an atomizer, a plug body adapted to be connected to a supply pipeat one end and having at the other end a transverse plate with a spindlecarried thereby and projecting from thefront thereof, such plate beingprovided around its periphery with a. series of perforations, a

plate seated on the front side of the transverse plate provided with aseries of grooves which communicate at their outer ends with saidperforations and which extend inward to the base of the spindletangential thereto, said plate being provided with a conical whirlingchamber surrounding the spindle and having an outlet orifice at itsouter end, and means for clamping the last mentioned plate against saidtransverse plate, said spindle being adjustable axially of the plug bodyand being provided at its base with a disc which partially closes theinner ends of said grooves when the spindle is adjusted outwardly.

7. In an atomizer, a plug body adapted to be connected to a supply pipeat one end and having at its other end a transverse plate, a plugthreaded through said plate so that it may be adjusted in and out, aspindle threaded into the plug so that it may be adjusted in and out,said plate being provided with perforations therethrough outward of theperiphery of the plug, a

plate seated on the front side of said transverse plate provided with aseries of grooves which communicate at their outer ends with saidperforations and which-extend inward to the periphery 'of said plugtangential to the base of the spindle, said plate being provided with aconical whirling chamber surrounding the spindle and having an outletorifice at its outer end, and

means for clamping the last mentioned plate against said transverseplate.

'8. In an atomizer, a plug adapted to be connected to a supply pipe atone end and having at the other end a conical whirling chamber with anoutlet orifice at its outer end of cylindrical shape, a conical spindlein the chamber having its walls spaced away from the walls of thechamber and having at its outer end a cylindrical portion extending intosaid outlet orifice, and a plurality of channels in the plug at the baseof the spindle with their center lines in a plane which is trans-

